As one of the most impressive forwards in the Premier League in the 2020-21 season, Patrick Bamford felt like a lock for England duty in March 2021. Having come through the ranks at Nottingham Forest and rebuilt his career after a period of time at Chelsea, the Leeds United frontman has become one of the most rated strikers in England. Although Leeds are being linked with more forwards in the 2021 transfer window, it is believed that they see Bamford as a key part of their future.

Football fans love to hear the news that their team is about to go and splurge a few pounds on new signings. For Leeds United fans, the previous summer brought high profile names including the likes of Rodrigo Moreno. However, while some of the major summer signings have failed to fire, it has not stopped Leeds or their Director of Football, Victor Orta, from being ambitious in the 2021 transfer window.

As one of the surprise packages of English football since the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds keep on impressing. Their attacking and ambitious game has naturally won many fans, as has the transformation in many otherwise middling players. Prior to his arrival at Leeds, for example, Patrick Bamford was typecast as a second tier striker; someone who could score in the Championship, but not the Premier League. However, an outstanding debut top-flight season with Leeds has shown that he can score, play, and contribute as an assister, as well. That, though, won’t stop Leeds from buying a new striker.

Although by the only team in the UK taking a closer look at Reading starlet Michael Olise, Leeds United are believed to be very interested. Seen as one of the most exciting players in the UK outside of the Premier League, Olise has built up a huge reputation at Championship level given his weekly performances. Aged only 19 and with a stunning left foot, he is seen as one that Marcelo Bielsa could take to another level again. The challenge for Leeds is beating the growing competition to his signature.

Having nearly joined Glasgow Celtic last year, Ivan Toney instead signed for Brentford in the English Championship. Given the fact he is among the best forwards in the second tier and being linked with teams like Leeds and Arsenal, while Celtic meltdown and miss out on a tenth title in a row, the decision might feel a bit more justified today. Despite being available for a fee of around £8m last year, Toney had a black mark on his record: his success had come at third and fourth tier level.

Having long relied upon a small-ish squad of players to keep going to the well and delivering, Leeds United are looking for some depth. Although still in a fight for a European place, it is likely the Whites will miss out due to squad depth. And although coach Marcelo Bielsa is known to have a preference for a smaller squad, it’s clear that he needs more bodies if the Yorkshire club are to avoid a repeat of this season next year. Despite impressive, inconsistency has blighted what could have been a special campaign. Will the reported arrival of Romain Perraud, then, change that?

As one of the key players in a Valencia side that had often achieved its aims, Rodrigo Moreno was seen as a top La Liga forward. He was regularly linked with moves to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, as well as a return to his academy club Real Madrid. However, when Moreno did move on, it was to a team that nobody had expected; newly-promoted Premier League side Leeds United. However, despite paying a record fee of €30m to complete the signing, Rodrigo has failed to fire in England.